Electronic device and control means therefor



July 30, 1946 R. E. MUMNHA 9 9 ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filecl NW. 7, 1940 /Z /7 1 35 /7 g '\\30%2 46 V I a i .'TTYT. '..,..T

I" i .g' i' gt I z.) 5 54 Ruben: E. Mumma Inventor L J His Attorney Patented July 30, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Robert E. Mumma, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to The National Cash Register Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Maryland Application November 7, 1940, Serial No. 364,716

18 Claims. 1

dium of the control tube to a discharge control element in the controlled tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide for control of the conduction in a grid-controlled electron tube relay by the change in potential in a current tapping member, placed apart from the cathode and the anode in the gaseous medium of a gas discharge electron tube, on a discharge occuring therein.

tential impulse, and further relates to novel means whereby conduction in the next preceding device is stopped.

The invention is primarily intended for use in connecting gaseous electron discharge tubes into a straight operative series or an endless chain operative series or ring, whereby the electron tubes are rendered conductive one at a time in sequence, the sequential change of the condition of discharge from one tube to another being caused by an electric potential impulse commonly received by all the tubes of the series. Such an impulse of potential is supplied to all the tubes, but only that tube following in the operative series to a conductive tube will respond to the impulse, causing a discharge therein, such act of discharge extinguishing the preceding tube or any other conductive tube of the series.

Such series-connected groups of gaseous elec- 30 tron tubes may be used in counting or in ac- Another object of the invention is to provide a means to indicate the condition of discharge in a gaseous electron discharge tube by utilizing the change in potential of a member placed apart from the cathode and the anode in the gaseous medium, said change in potential controlling an indicator.

a current tapping member situated in the gaseous medium of a gas electron discharge tube apart from the anode and the cathode, to which may be applied a potential through a high resistance, so that, upon a discharge taking place in the electron tube, the potential of the current tapping member will be changed toward zero by the attraction of ions thereto.

With these and incidental objects in view, the invention includes certain novel features and combinations of parts, the essential elements of which are set forth in appended claims and a preferred form or embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference to the drawing Another object of the invention i to provide cumulating numerical data received at intervals of time by means of electric potential impulses produced in diiferentially selected numbers.

lherefore, the principal object of this invention is to provide a novel means for causing electrical potential impulse commonly received by a plurality of gaseous electron tubes to render the electron tubes conductive one at a time in sequence.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for causing the sequential discharge, one at a time, of a plurality of gaseous electron tubes by utilizing the change of potential of a current tapping member, positioned in the gaseous medium apart from the anode and the cathode of one tube, as said tube discharges, to change the potential of a control element of the tube following next in the operative series.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to control a discharge in one electron gas discharge device by the state of discharge in another electron gas discharge tube, by connecting a current tapping member placed apart from the anode and the cathode in the gaseous mewhich accompanies and forms a part of this specification.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of a gas discharge electron tube having a current tapping member spaced in the gaseous medium apart from the anode and the cathode.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a circuit showing a controlling gas discharge electron tube, a controlled gas discharge electron tube connected for serial operation, and an electron tube relay controlled by the controlling gas discharge tubes.

General description The gas discharge electron tube chosen for illustrating the circuit and network constituting this invention is like the one described in the application for United States Letters Patent,

(Figs. 1 and 2)--for example, glass-containing a press ii, a seal #2, and a gaseou medium 53 -for instance. one of the rare inert gases exemplified by neon and argon, or mercury vapor. A cylindrical anode l4 having longitudinal i5 and i6 is supported in the envelope between two mica insulating disks l3 and is, to which the anode is fastened by clips, the top disk 50 he, 1g clipped to fin 50 by clip and the bottom disk 19 being clipped to fin l5 by clip 2!. The mica disks themselves are supported and alined by the conductor wires 23 and 20 entering the tube through the pres ll. A conductor wire ll leads from the anode to the outside of the envelope through seal ii.

A cylindrical current tapping member 22 is arranged coaxially within the anode I l close to the anode walls, being of equal length with the anode and supported by the conductor wire 23, before described, entering the envelope through the press H and piercing th mica disks l8 and I9. A longitudinal window 20 is cut in the current tapping member 22 for its full length except for support bands 25 and 26, to which are attached pins 3! and Si, which pierce the mica disks l8 and I9, respectively, to support and aline the current tapping member with relation to the anode M.

A trough-shaped control grid 32 is disposed within the current tapping member, its long axis parallel and substantially coaxial with th axis of the anode and the current tapping member its ends being bounded by the mica disks l8 and 10. The long opening of the trough faces the window 24 of the current tapping member 22, the edges of said opening being approximately positioned in the same radial lines of the common axis as are the sides of the window 24. The control grid is supported by the conductor wire 23, before mentioned, and by a pin 33 secured thereto, the ends of which pierce the mica disks.

A filament cathode 34, supported by a hook which is in turn fastened to a support 36 held in press H, is disposed along and close to the common axis of the electrodes. The ends of the filament are connected to heater current conductors and 39 entering through press H. A shield cap All is supported by a band 4! fastened to support There is an electrical connection between the cap 0 and the cathode filament 34 through hook A getter 69 is provided.

Electrons issuing from the filament cathode 34 through the trough opening of the grid 32 are free to travel directly to the anode. However, the edges or the window 24 of the surrounding current tapping member 22 are positioned within the boundaries of the densest region of the positive charges in the ionized gas. Thus, although the current tapping member be negatively charged, it has no absolute controlling influence on the trigger action of the tube, it being possible to cause the grid to lose control while it is still negatively charged.

While the particular structure of the tube as shown in the drawing is the most desirable embodiment for the purpose of this invention, other suitable arrangements of elements relative to one another as regards spacing and configuration, which perform the functions explained, are within the scope of the invention.

- Fig. 3 represents a typical portion of a system of electron tubes wherein gas discharge tubes I and II are arranged to be fired sequentially by positive electrical impulses impressed on all the tubes simultaneously by a common conductor 65.

The relay tube 111 is a vacuum type of tube not in the operative series, but appended thereto, and will be discussed hereafter to show by what method any one of the gas discharge tubes may be found to b conductive or non-conductive. The tubes in such a system, as exemplified by tubes I and II, are interconnected in series by the same type of network and circuit, and each tube is supplied with the same operating and controlling potentials. An explanation of the network and circuit connecting the two tubes I and II will serve to disclose how any number may be interconnected, either in straight series or in an endless chain series. The elements of the tubes I and II, although conventionally shown in Fig. 3, bear the same reference numerals as the corresponding elements of Figs. 1 and 2. The anodes M are connected to a common conductor 5 I, each through a resistor of 5,000 ohms, like resistors 50. Conductor 5i is given a positive potential of 70 volts with respect to ground and has in series with it and the source of potential a 100-ohm resistor 52. Conductor 5! is also grounded through a capacitor 53 of 1 microfarad. The cathodes 34 are grounded. The current tapping member 22 of onetube and the control grid 32 of the next tube in the series have a common source of negative potential of '75 volts like sources 54. Each current tapping member has in series with it and its source of potential 54 a resistor like resistors 56 of 500,000 ohms. The control grid of the following tube of the sequence has in series with it and its source of potential 54 the same resistor of 500,000 ohms, as described, a resistor like resistors 58 of 100,000 ohms, and a resistor like resistors 61 of 50,000 ohms. Thus each current tapping member 22 is connected to the control grid of the following tube through resistors like resistors 53 and 6 l. The dotted line beginning at point 80 connected to the current tapping member 22 of tube II and shown to connect to point 8| connecting to the control grid of tube I, illustrates what connection may be made to form an endless operating chain, the tubes otherwise being connected in a straight series.

The characteristics of the gas discharge electron tube taken as an example, as determined by the selection and spacing of the elements in the tube, are such that, with a positive anode potential of 70 volts and with a current tapping member at '75 volts negative, the critical potential of the control grid 32 is 5 volts negative. If tube I is fired and rendered conductive in any manner, as by rendering the control grid 32 and current tapping member 22 temporarily positive beyond the critical points, its anode M will immediately drop in potential to about 15 volts positive, due to the low resistance of the ionized gaseous medium as compared with the high resistance of its anode resistor 50 and resistor 52. The current tapping member 22 is positioned by the disclosed method so as to collect enough positive charges from the ionized gas when conducting to have its normal potential of '75 volts negative reduced to about 25 volts negative, causing a positive potential change to be impressed on control grid 32 of tube II, bringing it well within 50 volts of the critical point. Now, if a positive 50-volt potential impulse is impressed on conductor 65 through capacitors 66 and points 64, the control grid 32 of tube II will be given a positive potential pulse, which takes it past the critical 5-v0lt negative point, and tube II fires.

As tube II fires, the potential of its anode is reduced to approximately 15 volts positive, due

to its anode resistor 50 and resistor 52 in the anode supply conductor. This drop in anode potential causes a negative impulse of about 55 volts to be impressed on conductor '10 through capacitor 63, of .02 microfarad, which pulse in turn i impressed on the anode of every other tube in the series through their respective capacitors 63 of the same value. As tube I is discharging, its anode is at a potential of volts positive with respect to ground, and the negative impulse of 55 volts will carry it more negative than the grounded cathode, extinguishing the discharge and allowing the control grid to resume control. Thus, as tube II is fired after tube I by a -volt positive impulse impressed on conductor 65, and tube I or any other conductive tube of such a series is extinguished by a -volt negative potential impressed on conductor 10 by the firing of tube II, so may any number of tubes so interconnected be rendered conductive in sequence, each by a single positive potential impulse on conductor 65. The two tube I and II can thus be connected in straight series as described or in a ring circuit as indicated by the conductor 82, shown in dotted lines. When the tubes I and II are connected by conductor 82, the tube I will discharge in sequence after tube II upon an impulse being given on conductor 65. The same principle will apply to any number of tubes connected in a straight series or in a ring series. The value of the capacitors 63 may be made greater, but more time will be required for the plate of the following tube to again reach an equilibrium following an extinguishing pulse and be ready to receive the next pulse.

In all such interconnected tubes, the negatively biased current tapping member 22 is caused to change in potential in a positive sense by the ionized gas, and such positive change in potential is utilized to condition the succeeding tube to be responsive to a positive potential signal impulse.

Points 83, connected directly to the current tapping members of tubes I and II, assume the potential of the collecting members, and thus the change in potential from 75 volts negative to 25 volts negative as a tube discharges may be utilized to control the conduction in a vacuum electron tube relay such as tube III, wherein, for example, the control grid 84 of tube III is shown connected through a 1,000,000-ohm resistor 85 to point 83 associated with tube I. The cathode 86 is maintained at 25 volts negative. The electron tube III is of a type that conducts when the grid is at cathode potential. Anode plate 81 is connected through the windings of solenoid 88 to a source of positive potential 89 of 200 volts. As current flows through tube III, the solenoid 83 will close normally open contacts 90, which may complete any kind of circuit for operating mechanism which it i desired to control from tube I to indicate that tube I is discharging.

When electron tubes I and II are not conducting, grid 84 will be at 75 volts negative, preventing conduction in tube III. If tube II be conductive, it will not change the bias on grid 84 enough to cause conduction in tube III. Under either of these conditions, tube III will not conduct. When the tube I is conducting, point 83 and grid 84 are at 25 volts negative, and tube III becomes conductive to operate solenoid 88. Any points 83 singly or in combination may be so utilized to operate a vacuum tube relay. By this method of sensing the condition of the gas discharge tube I and II, the conditions of their sequentialoperation is not disturbed.

' It is to be noted that, the greater the potential of point 54 and the greater the resistance of resistor 56, the greater the voltage change will be at point 83 when the associated tube becomes conductive.

While the network and circuits herein shown and described are admirably adapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the specific form or embodiment herein disclosed, for it is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a first electron gas discharge tube having an anode, a cathode, a discharge control member, and a current tapping member; a second electron gas discharge tube having an anode, a cathode, a discharge control member, and a current tapping member; means comprising a conductor, coupling the current tapping member of the first tube with the discharge control member of the second tube; and means, comprising a conductor, coupling the current tapping member of the second tube with the discharge control member of the first tube.

2. In combination, a first electron gas discharge tube having an anode, a cathode, a discharge control member, and a current tapping member; a second electron gas discharge tube having an anode, a cathode, a discharge control member, and. a current tapping member; and means coupling the two tubes, comprising a conductor joining the current tapping member of the first tube. with the discharge control member of the second tube, and a conductor coupling the current tapping member of the second tube with the dis charge control member of the first tube, each of said conductors including resistances through which each of the current tapping members and its coupled control member may be negatively biased.

3. In combination, a plurality of electron gas discharge devices each having an anode, a cathode, and a discharge control member; means for supplying anode-cathode potential to the devices; current tapping means in each device for collecting positive charges from the ionized gas of the tube when in discharging condition; a conductor connecting the current tapping member of each device to the control member of another of the electron devices; means to supply all the control members with a positive electric potential impulse; and means to supply each of the control r members so with a controlling potential of such value that a discharge will occur in the associated device upon receipt of the potential impulse if a discharge is occurring in the device to whose current tapping member it is connected by a conductor.

4. In combination, a plurality of electron discharge devices each having an anode, a cathode, a discharge control member, a gaseous enveloping medium, and a current tapping member for collecting positive charges from the gaseous medium; means to supply anode potential to each device through a resistor; means connecting the devices in an operative series, said means being a coupling conductor including two resistors arranged in series, the current tapping member of a preceding tube in the series being connected to one end of the conductor and the discharge control member of the succeeding tube in the series being connectedto the other end of the conductor; means to supply a negative potential to each of the conductors to bias the associated control grid to prevent a discharge and to bias the connected current tapping member to attract positive charges; means to connect each conductor at a point between the resistors to a capacitor; a common signal conductor connecting all the capacitors; a capacitor connected to each anode; and a conductor connecting all the anode capacitors, whereby a positive potential impulse on the signal conductor reduces the negative controlling bias of each of the control members so that a control member connected to the current tapping member of a preceding tube which is discharging will be carried positively past the critical potential and allow a discharge to occur, said discharge extinguishing the said preceding tube.

5. In combination, a plurality of grid-controlled electron gas discharge tubes; means to supply anode-cathode potential and a controlling negative grid potential to each tube, each of said anodes being connected to the source of potential through a resistance; means to bring the potential of the control grid of a first tube to critical but controlling potential by the condition of discharge in another of the tubes, said means consisting of a positive charge collecting current tapping member positioned in the ionized gas of the discharging tube connected by a conductor to the control grid of the said first tube; means to impress a positive potential impulse on the control grids of all the tubes, said impulse being insufiicient to cause a discharge in any tube except the first tube whose control grid has been brought to the critical point by reason of the discharge in the tube to whose current tapping member the said control grid is connected; and a common conductor to which all the anodes are connected each through a capacitor, whereby the act of discharge in a tube which causes a drop in anode potential toward the negative, due to the anode resistor, will be impressed on the said common conductor, said anode resistors being of such a value that the potential drop of an anode upon a discharge and the consequent negative impulse on the common conductor is greater than the potential drop within a discharging tube, thus extinguishing all previously discharging tubes by making their anodes more negative than their cathodes.

6. In combination, an electron gas discharge tube having an anode, a cathode, a control grid, and a current tapping member for collecting positive charges from the ionized gas when the tube is conductive; an electron tube relay having a control grid normally biased to prevent conduction in the tube; means connecting the current tapping member of the gas discharge tube to the. control grid of the electron relay tube; and an indicator positioned and operated by the anode-cathode circuit of the relay tube whereby the state of conductivity or state of non-conductivity of the gas discharge tube may be indicated.

'7. In combination, av plurality of gaseous electron tubes each having an anode and a cathode; means to operate the tubes; means positioned in the gas of each tube and normally preventing the tubes from operating; and means including a tapping member positioned in the gas apart from the anode and the cathode for causing positive charges in the ionized gas of a discharging tube to be transferred to and to render the preventing means ineffective in another of the tubes.

8. In combination, a plurality of two or more gas discharge electron devices each including an anode, a cathode, and an ionizable medium enveloping the anode and the cathode; and means additional to and separate from the anodes or the cathodes for coupling the devices in a chain, said means including members for conductively connecting the ionizable media of adjacent electron devices.

9. In combination, a plurality of two or more parallel circuits, a part of each of said circuits comprising an ionizable gaseous medium; and means conductively connecting the ionizable gaseous media in a chain, said chain connections being additional to and separate from the parallel circuits.

10. In combination, a plurality of two or more gas electron discharge tubes each having an anode and a cathode to which electric potential may be supplied to cause a discharge in the tube; and a conductive connection between the gaseous parts of the circuits of the tubes to form them into an operative chain, one end of said connection in a preceding tube of the chain being positioned in the gaseous medium as a current tapping member and the other end of said connection positioned in a succeeding tube as a discharge control member.

11. In combination, two gas discharge electron devices each having two auxiliary electrodes in the gaseous medium spaced at intervals between an anode and a cathode; and means connecting the auxiliary electrode adjacent the anode of one device with the auxiliary electrode adjacent the cathode of the other device.

12. In combination, two gas discharge electron F devices each having two auxiliary electrodes in the gaseous medium spaced at intervals between an anode and a cathode; and means conductively connecting the auxiliary electrode adjacent the anode of one device with the auxiliary electrode adjacent the cathode of the other device.

13. In combination, a plurality of gas discharge devices each having two auxiliary electrodes in the gaseous medium spaced at intervals between an anode and a cathode; and means connecting the auxiliary electrode of each device adjacent the anode with that auxiliary electrode of another device adjacent the cathode.

14. In combination, a plurality of gas discharge devices each having two auxiliary electrodes in the gaseous medium spaced at intervals between an anode and a cathode; and means conductively connecting the auxiliary electrode of each device adjacent the anode with that auxiliary electrode of another device adjacent the cathode.

15. In combination, a plurality of gas discharge tubes each having two auxiliary electrodes in the gaseous medium spaced at intervals between an anode and a cathode; and means for coupling the tubes in series for operation one at a time in sequence, said means including connecting the auxiliary electrode adjacent the anode of one tube with the auxiliary electrode adjacent the cathode of another tube.

16.- In combination, a plurality of gas discharge tubes each having two auxiliary'electrodes in the gaseous medium spaced at intervals between an anode and a cathode; and means for coupling the tubes for operation one at a time in endless chain sequence, said means including connecting the auxiliary electrode adjacent the anode of one tube with the auxiliary electrode adjacent the cathode of the next tube of the series.

17. A plurality of more than two gas electron discharge devices each including at least an anode and a cathode; a common conductor supplying anode potential to each of said tubes through a resistor, said potential being sufficient to sustain a discharge in any of the tubes but insufilcien't to initiate a discharge in any of the tubes; a second conductor to which the anodes of the tubes are electrostatically connected; and means cooperating with the electrostatic means to initiate conduction in the tubes one at a time in sequence.

18. A plurality of more than two electron gas 

